PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration will continue to implement policies that attract investment and spark competition in critical sectors of the economy.
The President also said he has developed interest in the oil sector. President Buhari stated this when he received the Management of LADOL Integrated Logistics Enterprise, who was on a courtesy visit yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja He commended the company for taking advantage of the pro-business policies put in place by his administration aimed at bringing domestic and direct foreign investment. He said: “Your competitive and aggressive activity has brought you success. I am pleased that you are investing in a critical area, the oil industry, which I have developed an interest in. I am happy you are training Nigerians and giving them jobs. What you are doing shows that whoever tries will succeed.” The Chairman and Chief Executive of the company, Chief Oladipo Jadesimi, said they had come to thank President Buhari for creating an enabling environment and anti-corruption regime that have enabled their business to create a 10 billion Dollar investment and 50,000 new jobs.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/ive-developed-interest-in-oil-industry-buhari-2/

The Ndigbos have come out publicly to denounce the allegation. They have said they have not endorsed any candidate yet...I wonder why the PDP are rejoicing over nothing

Indeed Nigeria is working...Kudos to this administration for its effort in infrastructural development

It matters a lot to our politicians what the foreign press or agencies say about them, especially about their electoral chances. If foreigners, particularly those in London or New York, say something nice, our politicians take it to heart and repost as far and wide as they can. If not, they get mad. In recent times, forecasts about the outcome of the 2019 elections by the Economic Intelligence Unit of The Economist of London, and the United States Institute of Peace, have been hotly debated. In its two forecasts so far, The Economist favoured former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to win. The newspaper said its predictions were based on the promise of Atiku to re-invigorate the economy with pro-market policies. Also, it said the election might favour Atiku because of the failure of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on its promises of jobs, as well as growing poverty and insecurity in central Nigeria. The Atiku camp promptly seized on the predictions as endorsement of sorts and, clinking glasses in a mock celebratory toast, smiled to one another in excitement that victory might be closer than once thought. It wasn’t long before the Buhari camp also got something to cheer – or so it would seem. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) issued a report on a survey in Nigeria focused on preventing electoral violence. Unfortunately, those eager for an answer to The Economist, put a spin on the USIP report to suggest that it predicted likely victory for Buhari next year. The oracle’s nemesis But seriously, there’s nothing in The Economist or USIP or a dozen other electoral predictions by the foreign press or agencies that we should be taking too seriously. We may not dismiss the reports as nonsense, but I think we must grow up and stop treating them like gospel. How was it that these same editorial oracles didn’t see the 2007-08 financial crises coming? In fact, if some of the forecasts at the time were to be believed, the world was going through its most glorious era ever. It was boom, boom, boom and the global financial system was supposedly awash with enough credit to meet every need and to spare. Yet, just when everyone thought it was peace and safety, the bubble burst, leaving the world in one of the worst financial crises in decades. Two years ago, the oracles bit the dust again, big time. It happened in the political arena in the US, right inside the oracles’ shrine. Donald Trump was supposed to be a joke. That was virtually what all the forecasts said and even those in Trump’s campaign believed it and sometimes treated one another like jokers. Hilary Clinton was going to be the 45th President of the United States of America, shattering the last vestiges of the glass ceiling in a historic landslide. Well, it didn’t happen, and the oracles conveniently invented the angry white middle class voter as the reason. Not that this effigy ever went anywhere in the eight years of Barack Obama. It just happened that the oracles couldn’t figure it out.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/losing-sleep-over-the-economist-other-publications/

AHEAD of the 2019 general elections in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that there are still pockets of issues questioning the unity of Nigeria. President Buhari Support Group sensitizes public on PVCs collection The President who stated this when he unveiled Buhari Unity Band, BUB, a brainchild of his support group known as Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria, GOGAN, in Abuja, assured that with the determination of all Nigerians, the country would remain strong and united. Speaking at the launch of campaign wrist bands, President Buhari said the occasion was part of his administration’s commitment to the sustenance of unity and mutual co-existence, stressing that Nigerians were united by shared history and shared destiny. The President also said his administration was doing all it could to promote togetherness as well as cement cordial relationship among the citizens, adding that the coming together of the group made up of people of various ethnic backgrounds was an indication and demonstration of the determination of his administration to see that Nigeria succeeds. He said that no nation can make progress without unity, noting that despite some challenges that tried to tear the country apart, it had always emerged stronger from such crisis. According to him, “This occasion is part of our commitment to the sustenance of unity and mutual co-existence as one people united by our shared history and shared destiny. It is a demonstration of our determination to see Nigeria succeed as we come to agreement that no nation can truly make progress without unity. “Our country has passed through difficult times, on occasions threatening the foundations of our unity, but with the help of God, we have always emerged from each crisis stronger. There is no doubt that we still have pockets of issues that question our unity but we are convinced that, with the determination of all Nigerians, we shall remain strong and united. “The Buhari Unity Band is a visual and token symbol of our resolve to live in unity as one and to preach the message of unity wherever we live. Those who subscribe to the unity wristband will be known as Nigerian Unity Ambassadors. You will be building on the legacy of a number of our patriots who have, in the past, sacrificed so much, some even their lives, in defense of our nation. “I want to commend the Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria, who initiated this project, for their sense of patriotism and commitment. Let me assure you that the government remains committed to advancing the course of national unity and progress. “I urge all Nigerians of goodwill to sign up to this initiative by obtaining and wearing the unity wristband.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/therere-still-issues-questioning-nigerias-unity-buhari/

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, has blamed the Nigerian elite for the underdevelopment of the nation’s agricultural sector.

Mr Ogbeh spoke at a town hall meeting in Dutse, Jigawa State, that focused on developments in the agriculture sector under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. The meeting was attended by federal and state government officials, representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), traditional rulers and farmers’ groups.

“The cotton and textile industries died because of importation,” Mr Ogbeh said. “For nearly 30 years, foreigners had taken this country hostage. When we make efforts they demoralise you, they will tell you that you are not doing enough, your produce is bad, you cannot do anything.

“Nigeria’s elite absorbed this messages without asking questions. How many of the elite in Nigeria go to the rural areas and find out what farmers are doing? They are city based impresarios, beer parlour philosophers who know everything but know less of what is happening in the rural areas.”

The minister, however, stated that from 2015 to date, change has happened in the sector. He said the Buhari administration “has invested in agriculture more than any other regime in the history of Nigeria.

“There are five million members of the rice growers association, they were not happy because nobody was patronising their products, people complained that their rice is full of stones.

“We first recognised their obstacle to growth was the outrageous interest rate started from 1986 when our economic disaster began through the structural adjustment programme when the interest rate went up to 25 per cent.

“How can a farmer produce anything profitable at an interest rate of 25 per cent? How can a farmer grow rice if he borrows at the interest rate of 25 per cent and processes it and puts in the market to compete with what was imported from Thailand and India when those countries interest rate was three per cent?”

He spoke extensively on the impact of the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) of the CBN introduced in November 2015.

“The first outing was N40 billion to farmers, that money in one year brought a turnover of over N294 billion. This proves the point that if we can reduce interest rate for agriculture and industry, Nigerians will no longer complain of hunger, poverty and unemployment.”



“An agricultural revolution is taking place in the country, farmers are gloriously becoming stronger, independent and legitimately rich.

“Those farmers didn’t see electricity for years, they couldn’t pay their children’s school fees, they had no right to life. This revolution has given them back their lives. In Kano, there are 1,240 small rice mills. In Ebonyi State there over 800 and 21 in Jigawa, to mention a few.

“We are currently reforming the Bank of Agriculture. Bureau of Public Enterprises has almost completed its work, we are going to restructure the bank and farmers will become shareholders of the bank and looking forward to bring back the interest rate to five percent.

“Nigeria’s development efforts for many years have not yielded much fruits not because government has not tried but because government neglected the rural areas, we forgot the basic industry, which is agriculture in the rural communities.

“We forgot our history in the First Republic when Nigeria was a major exporter of foods to the rest of the world, when we dominated the sesame seed market, groundnuts market, hides and skin, when Nigeria accounted for 40 percent world’s consumption of palm oil and cocoa.”

Farmers/Herders crisis
Mr Ogbeh also said government was committed to ending the farmers and herders conflict in the country.

Stressing the contributions of herders to the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians, Mr Ogbeh said Nigeria needs more milk because the country spends $1.2 billion importing low quality powder milk.

“We need fresh milk to curtail the problems of malnutrition in our children. In the first five years of a child’s growth, if the child’s brain is damaged, the child will not be useful in the society.

“In Nigeria, we have 19.5 million cows but our yield of milk is very low, that’s why we have to improve. We’re going to engage in a mass scale breeding in every state using artificial insemination.That is the milk we will be giving to our children in the schools, that’s how our kids will have functional brain.

“You are imagining that a herdsman live in the bush and there’s nothing for them. But Lagos alone consume 7000 cows and 20,000 goats daily, not to mention parties, wedding ceremonies and burials.



“For the herdsman to produce more we need to eliminate the crisis, we don’t want the farmers losing their crops and make sure that the herdsmen is comfortable and peaceful, that he can stay in a situation where he can be protected by agro rangers.

“This is how we can solve the problems of self-sufficiency in food. I want to remind you that, over the years, a herdsman is a farmer. In Europe, every cow gets six euros per day as subsidy to support a cow.”

Mr Ogbeh stated that Nigerians must sort out the farmers and herders conflict. He lamented that the conflict is misinterpreted as a religious issue.

“It is not, but rather an economic problem. This administration is committed to addressing the issue, there will be no more waste of agricultural by-products after harvest, machines are coming to take care of the remnants to be given to the cows.”

In its remarks, the CBN said it has disbursed N160 billion to 850,000 small holder farmers under the ABP since November 2015.

CBN governor, Godwin Emefele, who was represented by his special assistant, Olatunde Akande, said the programme did not target only rice production as widely perceived, but 15 different commodities.

He named the commodities as cereals (rice, maize and wheat); roots and tubers (cassava, potatoes, yam and ginger); sugarcane, tree crops (oil palm, cocoa and rubber); legumes (soya beans, sesame seed and cowpea). Others are tomato and livestock (fish, poultry and ruminants)

Godwin Emefiele
“The programme thrust of the anchor borrowers system is provision of farm inputs in kind and cash for farm labour to small holder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilise inputs supply to agro processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food.”

Mr Emefele said the objective of the system is to create economic linkage between smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors with a view to increasing agricultural output and significantly improving capacity utilisation of processors.

“Other objectives include increase banks’ financing to the agricultural sector, reduce agricultural commodity importation and conserve external reserves, increase capacity utilisation of agricultural firms, create new generation of farmers/entrepreneurs and unemployment.

“Others, are deepen the cashless policy and financial inclusion, reduce, the level of poverty among small holder farmers and rural farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial production levels.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, said her ministry is trying to create enabling environment for farmers to export their farm produce.



Mrs Abubakar urged farmers to observe the standardisation policy by ensuring that their produce are properly inspected before forwarding them for exportation.

She urged farmers to ensure their produce are inspected and free from any form of infection “because when a produce is rejected, it takes a very long time to get it accepted back.”

Rice farm
The chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria in Jigawa, Maiunguwa Jaga, called on the members to pay back their loan to enable others benefit from the ABP.

Other farmers also urged government to ban importation of wheat so local producers can thrive.‎

One of the farmers, Isa Gerawa, said he lost about N20 million last year as a result of poor patronage by large-scale buyers who prefer imported wheat from the open market.

He urged government to declare an emergency on wheat farming like it did on rice farming some years ago by banning its importation.

Mr Gerawa said rice farmers across the country are benefiting from the ban on rice importation and assured if the same is done to wheat, it will generate similar‎ impact on the Nigerian economy.

The Emir of Kazaure, Najib Usaini, called for funding of research institutions if Nigeria desires an agricultural revolution.

Also at the event, the Emir of Dutse, Nuhu Sunusi, said government should either revitalise the National Institute for Palm Oil Research or reallocate the plots back to their original owners for farming.

He said the institute has been in existence for more than 30 years but has not developed a single seed.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/agriculture/agric-news/295531-how-elites-foreigners-killed-agriculture-in-nigeria-ogbeh.html

As the 2019 presidential election draws near, political parties have started building a strong image of their respective candidates in order to win the heart of the electorates.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice are not left out, as Lauretta Onochie, the special adviser to Mr President on Social media, took to her tweeter handle on Tuesday to lambast the vice presidential candidate of the opposition party, Mr Peter Obi and extol vice president Yemi Osinbajo on his unflinching contributions towards the success of trader moni approved in view by the federal government to assist petty traders in the country.
According to her, the opposition party “wants to return to take food out of the mouth of these lovely Nigerians. For the first time, ordinary Nigerians have a share in our national wealth. There will be no Peter Obi for this scheme. Thanks @Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. You’re the best.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/osinbajo-is-the-best-we-dont-need-peter-Obi-in-our-scheme-lauretta-onochie/

The Buhari/Masari Agenda 2019, a Katsina-based political association, has commenced tour of the 34 local government areas in the state to sensitise the electorate on the importance of possessing permanent voter cards and re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Aminu Masari in the 2019 general elections. President Buhari departs Paris for Abuja after a 5 day Official Visit to Paris on 14th Nov 2018 Malam Lawal Adam, the Secretary General of the group, made this known in Daura on Thursday. He said available statistics from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that there were still thousands of unclaimed voter cards at the commission’s local government offices across the state. He emphasised the need for all eligible voters to collect their voter cards ahead of the election, stressing that “the voter card is the only weapon with which one can partake in a political warfare’’. Adam commended INEC for being very punctual and neutral in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, saying: “We are happy at the recent display of names of those who applied for voter cards from the commission as their cards were ready for collection.’’ However, the scribe called on the electorate to re-elect Buhari and Masari to enable them consolidate on the gains so far recorded. According to him, the last three years of APC administration has been very eventful, especially considering the level of infrastructural development, agricultural revolution and promotion of general security situation. Armed bandits, cattle rustlers attack: Gov. Masari orders removal of Katsina Village head Rep Adam described the administration of Masari as one of the best in the history of the state considering its impact on education, health, security and youth empowerment programme, noting that over 35,000 youths had been empowered through skills acquisition and provision of seed capital. He added that the administration has also promoted the welfare of civil servants through regular payment of salaries and allowances as well as pension and gratuity of retired civil servants. The secretary added that the administration has also abolished the hitherto eight-year tenure system for directors introduced by the PDP administration. Political alignments and realignments, meetings and solidarity visits to politicians has commenced in earnest across the state, ahead of the 2019 polls. PDP faults Os

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/buharis-govt-has-been-very-eventful-in-infrastructural-agricultural-revolution/

President Muhammadu Buhari has given consent for the renewal of three Oil Mining Licences (OML) belonging to oil and gas firm, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc.

A disclosure sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday said the president gave consent for the renewal of the three licences––OMLs 4, 38 and 41––to a new expiry date of 21 October 2038. (http://www.nse.com.ng/Financial_NewsDocs/24435_SEPLAT_PETROLEUM_DEVELOPMENT_COMPANY_PLC_CORPORATE_ACTIONS_NOVEMBER_2018.pdf).

Mr Buhari, who is also Nigeria’s petroleum minister granted the approval after the company paid a renewal bonus of $25.9 million, the disclosure said.

Seplat Petroleum Development Company is a Nigerian indigenous oil and gas company listed on both the Nigeria Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange.

According to the disclosure, signed by Roger Brown, Seplat’s Chief Financial Officer, the company holds a 45 per cent working interest in OMLs 4, 38 and 41. Mr Brown added that in the first nine months of 2018, production from the licenses accounted for 92 per cent of Seplat’s total oil production and 100 per cent of Seplat’s gas production.

“In connection with the licence renewal Seplat has paid in full a Renewal Bonus of US$25.9 million, thus ensuring all conditions for license renewal have been met,” the disclosure said.

“The Company is now working with the Department of Petroleum Resources to obtain the updated title deeds in connection with the renewal.”

On his part, Austin Avuru, Seplat’s Chief Executive Officer, assured that after the renewal, the company would now invest in the Nigerian oil and gas industry with confidence.

“We are delighted to have concluded the early renewal of our core producing licenses, OMLs 4, 38 and 41,” he was quoted to have said.

“With the extension of the license to 2038 secured, we can now invest with confidence long into the future as we seek to further realise the full oil and gas potential of the licenses and continue to deliver value to all of our stakeholders.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/295873-buhari-approves-renewal-of-three-oil-licences-for-seplat-till-2038-official.html

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, reaffirmed its commitment to ending Boko Haram insurgency, saying it would ensure that the menace was completely eliminated.
President Muhammadu Buhari stated this at the opening of the International Conference on insurgency in Kano. Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazau (retd), said the government was determined to end the sufferings of victims of insurgency, especially in the North-East worst affected The conference was organised by the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue, Bayero University, Kano, in collaboration with Information Institute of Islamic Thought, Nigeria Office and Kano State Government. According to him, the Federal Government will do everything possible to ensure that victims of the attacks return to their respective towns and villages to enable them continue with normal life. He noted that the activities of Boko Haram insurgents had led to destruction of schools, worship places and other public structures, and stressed the need for concerted effort to rebuild the places. “We must continue to support our youths to make sure that lack of employment does not create problems to our country again. “We must also strengthen our various institutions so as to guide our youths to be self-reliant and be able to contribute their quota toward the development of the country,” he said. Buhari commended Kano, Borno, Yobe and other states which had taken the pain in taking care of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their respective states. He also commended the effort of civil society organisations and other bodies that had been working to alleviate the sufferings of the IDPs in the affected states. “Government also wishes to appreciate the efforts and charge our schools to continue to support the youths to be useful members of the society.’’ He noted that the reintroduction of teaching of history in secondary schools would enable the youth to know the history of the country and promote unity and peaceful coexistence in the country. The president expressed the hope that the conference would come up with useful suggestions that would guide policy makers to implement policies and programmes for the development of the country. “It is my sincere hope that the participants will dig out the root cause and identify the means of addressing and preventing the menace,’’ he said. The conference which had “Insurgency and the Phenomenon of Boko Haram’’ as theme, was attended by stakeholders within and outside the country, including representatives of security agencies and traditional rulers. (NAN)

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/im-committed-to-ending-boko-haram-insurgency-buhari/

The Federal Government will expand the N-Power scheme from the current 500,000 to accommodate one million beneficiaries in the next phase. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the expansion became necessary because of the successes recorded in the programme.
The government established the programme because of the growing need for government’s direct intervention in job creation. The Vice President stated when he responded to a variety of questions at a town hall meeting in Abuja on Monday. He said that the programme would become the largest post-tertiary job scheme in Africa. “The idea of N-Power is supposed to be government’s own programme of direct employment and training. At the moment, we have taken up to 500,000 and in the next phase we are looking at another 200,000 and closely followed by another 300,000. “In all, we will be employing up to a million, and that will be the largest post-tertiary job programme in the entire Africa. The reason why we have done this is because of the employment problems that we have, we may not be able to engage everybody but at least government must give some direct provision of jobs.” Osinbajo explained further that though government could not pay more than the N30,000 currently paid to beneficiaries and also fix all the unemployment issues, it is working on creating the enabling environment to ensure that beneficiaries as well as other unemployed Nigerians become useful to themselves. “It is infrastructure that will create the opportunities to provide more jobs, especially through manufacturing and Industry. “So, we are doing roads and rail, providing power; that is the way we can develop industry. We are energizing our markets at the moment, putting solar power in the markets. “We have designated 300 markets, we have done Ariaria in the South East, Sabon Gari in Kano, Surat in Lagos, Isikan in Ondo, Gbagi in Oyo and we are expanding so that more people can work.” On the need to engage more women in productive activities, Prof. Osinbajo said: “one of the ways the Buhari administration is engaging more women is through our GEEP loans.” He said: “56% of our GEEP loans go to the women. So there is a lot of preferential advantage that we give to women and this is because women are effective managers of resources; they pay back these loans when they are given.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/fg-to-employ-1m-people-for-n-power/

ACTING Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, boasted Monday that he had set a new record in asset recovery and conviction of corrupt elements in the country in the last three years of his outing. Diezani The EFCC boss also revealed that the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was not being tried in the United Kingdom as speculated, explaining that no corruption case had been filed against the former minister in the UK and that Nigeria was desirous of extraditing her to face trial at home. Ibrahim Magu, EFCC boss “She is not currently being tried for anything in the UK. There is no prosecution of Diezani going on in the UK. We cannot wait indefinitely for the UK. That is why we want to initiate her extradition and trial in Nigeria,” Magu told journalists in his office. Magu, who flaunted the achievements of his three-year stewardship before journalists in his imposing office in Abuja, announced that EFCC under his watch recovered N794 billion, $261 million (about N77.8 billion), £1.1 million and 407 mansions from looters. He also said that the commission convicted no fewer than 703 corrupt persons and institutions within the period under review. …secures 703 convictions “In the three years that I have been in charge of EFCC, we have secured 703 convictions. The breakdown is as follows: 103 convictions in 2015, 194 convictions in 2016; 189 in 2017 and 217 from January 2018 till date,” Magu revealed. “Ladies and gentlemen, in the past three years, we have set recovery records to the envy of virtually all law enforcement agencies in Africa. “It is on record that about 90 per cent of all recoveries in Nigeria is through the EFCC. “Following court orders which granted our prayers for interim and final forfeiture of looted funds, the recoveries under my watch between November 2015 and today are as follows: “Over N794billion recovered. Over $261 million has been recovered. The Pounds Sterling recovered stands at 1, 115, 930.47 Pounds. The Euros recovered in the period is: 8,168, 871. 13 Euros. There is also the sum of 86,500 CFA “Hundreds of properties such as filling stations, petroleum products, land, jewellery, automobiles, real estate, vessels, hospitals, company shares and heavy machinery and broadcast equipment have been seized from corrupt elements between 2015 and 2018. 126 mansions forfeited “From 2015 to 2018, 407 mansions were seized, 126 have been forfeited finally and 281 are under interim forfeiture. Nine filling stations were seized and placed under interim forfeiture. “Plots of land seized sums up to 98 of which 56 are under interim forfeiture, while 42 have been forfeited finally to the Federal Government. “Two hundred and fifty nine automobiles have been seized, 35 are under interim forfeiture while 224 have been forfeited finally. “A hospital, St. Solomon Health Care Centre located at No. 24, Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja, Lagos, has also been forfeited finally. In 2016, 1500 metric tonnes of AGO and 3,035 Metric tonnes of LPFO were forfeited finally.” On the OML 245 scam, otherwise known as Malabu Oil, Magu disclosed that in an effort to nail the perpetrators of the scam, some Italian prosecutors would be arriving Nigeria very soon to compare notes with the EFCC on the matter, adding that the high profiled suspects in the controversial fraud would face the law. Magu said: “We are working assiduously to get Malabu trial to a conclusion. For this reason, Italian prosecutors are being awaited next week.” The chairman also announced the resolve of the agency to go after top Nigerian contractors who collected huge sums of money from the government and its agency for key projects and services but abandoned those projects and disappeared into thin air. Magu also announced that the commission was on the trail of top Nigerians who looted public treasury to acquire choice property in Dubai and other world capitals, and were desperately trying to dispose of such property so as to evade arrest, prosecution and forfeiture by the EFCC. “We are going after top Nigerians trying to sell their property in Dubai to evade detection, confiscation and prosecution. We are in touch with Dubai authorities. Those countries are willing to work with us and stop corruption,” he said.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/efcc-recovers-n871bn-looted-funds-407-mansions-in-3-years-magu/

Agriculture indeed has recorded huge success following the diversification policy of the President. Today, The Minister of Power has disclosed that the Buhari Administration is currently working on 365 road projects across the 36 States of Nigeria and FCT. 244 of those were inherited from previous administrations (started between 1999 and 2015).
121 were STARTED by the PMB Admin....Indeed Lai Mohammed's assertion is not far from the truth

So far it has being good on your fight sir....History has become of Boko Haram freely parading the streets of Abuja...I see their end near completely

It is quite unfortunate how certain aspirants talk lazily on restructuring without any clue on how it will be implemented peacefully...At least now they have a clue

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday restated his support for the creation of state police in the country.
Osinbajo said this was part of the restructuring that Nigeria needed, stressing that more powers should be given to states to make them financially independent.
Osinbajo said this in Lagos in a lecture titled, “Restructuring and the Nigerian federation,” which he delivered as part activities marking the 40th anniversary of the Association of Friends.
The VP said, “On the security question, we must establish state police; there’s no question, at all, about that.

“Today, the challenges that we are facing are enormous. A federation of 200 million people and a state cannot control its own police; there must be state police.

“That doesn’t mean that there will not be federal police. The federal police will remain for borders security, elections, to check smuggling and so on.

“But we must still have state police and community police.

“Today, many of the state governments pay the police. That just shows you that whether we like it or not, it is the same governors that are even paying anyway.

“We cannot say that a governor is the chief security officer of a state when he has no control over security in his state. So, there is a strong case to be made.”



Osinbajo’s position on state police is at variance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on the issue.

Buhari had in an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America, reportedly said that, “We must carefully look at the position of the nation’s constitution on the issue of state police before we take a final decision on the matter. If the constitution allows state police, so be it. But don’t forget that many times the Federal Government gave out what we referred to as bailouts to state governments for the payment of workers’ salaries. How many states can pay salaries promptly? And you want to add more financial burden on the states? It is not proper to employ a person, train him in how to handle weapons and then refuse to pay him – you can imagine what would happen in such situation.”

On Monday, Osinbajo argued that Nigeria could no longer rely on crude oil as its sole source of income, stressing that the states must be strengthened to be financially independent.

He said the next two decades would be decisive for Nigeria, as the country could either become “one of the world’s leading economies or we could be one of the greatest socio-economic disasters in history”.

He noted that with an annual growth of three per cent, Nigeria’s population had been projected to be third largest by 2050.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 20 firms risk delisting from stock market

He said the problem of rising population in the midst of mass poverty had been compounded by a rise in the activities of terrorists as well as climate change, “leading to desertification at a frightening rate, fertile land is shrinking and the struggle for pasture and water is getting more desperate and deadly”.

He said, “I have argued elsewhere that the commonly held notion of restructuring, meaning geographical restructuring will not achieve much.

“By that, I mean that the suggestion that we should go back to the old regions or create more states will not solve the problem.

“What we need are stronger states. Stronger states within a federation can with the critical mass of resources they aggregate solve the four problems I had highlighted above.”

He, again, launched a fresh attack against the Goodluck Jonathan administration, saying it plunged the country into debt due to grand corruption and impunity.

The VP said he was shocked to find that $292m (about N70bn) was moved out from the Central Bank of Nigeria in a single day, “without any contract or any real explanation”.

According to him, that dollar haul from the CBN left the apex bank dollar-broke for two weeks.

He said it was unimaginable that despite earning $381bn from crude sale between 2010 and 2014 – the highest that the country had ever earned – the nation’s external reserves fell to $30bn by 2014 and the Goodluck Jonathan administration left behind a debt of $63.806bn.

He noted that between 2010 and 2015, Nigeria’s debt jumped from $35,093.10bn to $63,806.53bn.

He said, “What do these figures show? They show that when oil prices were at the highest between 2010 and 2014 the government was borrowing heavily.

“From 2010 to 2014, debts moved from $35bn to $63bn. When we assumed office in 2015, the debt that the previous government left was $63bn.

“Today, three and half years later, the debt is $73bn.

“There are two reasons why despite high earnings we are poorer – the first is grand corruption and mismanagement of resources. And there is a difference between grand corruption and ordinary corruption.

“Grand corruption is directly stealing from the CBN, directly taking money from the treasury without any contract, no pretences; there’s no caution, you just take money. That was going on and I will give you several examples.

READ ALSO: Father discovers two children dead inside freezer

“When I got to the office as Vice-President, I couldn’t believe it. In one day, $292m was signed out and it disappeared. After that period, for two weeks, the Central Bank of Nigeria did not have cash dollar – $292m without any real explanation! We later discovered what became of the money.

“On another occasion, N60bn was moved out ostensibly for security purposes; but we know what happened.”

https://punchng.com/osinbajo-restates-support-for-state-police/

This is indeed highly commendable...Kudos to the FG for this as it will go a long way in easing the traffic on that axis.

Today Minister of Power BRF disclosed that the Buhari Administration is currently working on 365 road projects across the 36 States of Nigeria and FCT.

244 of those were inherited from previous administrations (started between 1999 and 2015).

121 were STARTED by the PMB Admin

Considering the thousands of Graduates the N Power scheme accommodates and gives jobs yearly, It becoming Africa's largest post tertiary job scheme is well deserved. Kudos to the President for this amazing initiation

I will term it doing Much with so little....Keep moving PMB

We need leaders that will unite Nigeria not the ones that will cause disunity....Nigerians should be wise on their choice of leaders come 2019

Gullible Atiku has suddenly diverted from Restructuring to Job creation all to deceive Nigerians to voting for him....He should know that Nigerians are wiser and won't be deceived

The truth indeed is bitter, but must be told. It is good the FG are trying their possible best to revitalize and stabilize the economy

This is indeed commendable as it will give millions of Nigerians jobs

This is indeed commendable as it will give millions of Nigerians jobs

No doubt the President is doing so much with less funds. Considering the total number of roads and Railway Projects ongoing and completed by this administration as disclosed by the honorable minister of Power, works and Housing Earlier today in a press briefing, No doubt the president is trying his best to develop the country

indeed this is a battle between good and evil as clearly asserted by the VP...Nigerians should be wise on this

Julius Berger, a construction company handling the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan expressway project has said the Sagamu-Lagos end of the road won't be completed until 2021.

Eyewitnessreporters gathered through Punch online that company made this known on Sunday through its Operations Manager, Thamm Olaf, while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Works who were on an oversight duty.

Olaf told the lawmakers led by Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Kabiru Gaya that the project, which was to be completed in 2017, was stalled due to paucity of funds and the recent expansion.

Gaya and other members of his team expressed their dissatisfaction on the level of work done on the site despite the efforts and funds that had been put into it.

He said, “The project is good as it will take care of traffic but we are not happy with the speed and so we expect the contractor to increase the pace of work, even though there were amendments on the road."

Other roads inspected during the tour were the Ikorodu-Sagamu Road being handled by Arab Contractors with a completion date of 2021, and the 1.5km NNPC Mosimi Access Road, which had been stalled by a debt of N1bn.

https://www.eyewitnessreporters.com.ng/2018/11/lagos-ibadan-expressway-will-project.html

HIGHLIGHTS FROM HONORABLE MINISTER FASHOLA’s PRESS BRIEFING ON NOVEMBER 12, 2018.

- November 10th 2018 makes exactly three years since I was appointed as Minister of Power, Works and Housing by H.E President Buhari to run the newly merged Ministry. - Fashola

- We have walked our talk and recorded tremendous success. Although there are still people we have not reached but it is indisputable that we have delivered on Incremental Power Supply.

- Surveys conducted by National Bureau Of Statistics show improved power supply and less money spent on fueling generators.

- A Nigerian sent me a text recently. He said he spent 5 hours from lagos to warri by road and this wasn't the case under previous administrations where the same journey took a whole day to complete.

- The ministry has projects ongoing in every single state of the federation and the FCT.

- We are working with the Chinese to build the Mambilla Hydropower Project and model it after the Three Gorges Dam in China

- Data:
Total Km of Roads Constructed in 2017- 488km.

Total Km of Roads Rehabilitated in 2017- 256km
Number of Personnel - 31,227

Total Km of Roads Constructed as at Nov 2018: 497km

Total Km of Roads Rehabilitated as at Nov 2018- 224km
Number of Personnel - 30,402

- The ministry’s 6-year plan for the construction of Mambilla Hydropower Dam will require about 31,240,000 bags of cement, 42,000 metric tons of steel, 18,981,000 metric tons of granite, stones, sand.

- There are 365 roads presently under construction and some awarded as far back as 2001, and 121 awarded by President Buhari led administration

- we have improved on what we met, by increasing generation from 4000 MW to 7000 MW, transmission from 5000 MW to 7000 MW and distribution from 2690 MW to 5,222 MW

- Generation from Kaduna: 215MW, Afam IV: 240MW, Kashimbilla 40MW, Gurara 30MW, Dadinkowa 29MW, power for 9 universities, 15 markets and 2 big Hydro power plants of 700MW in Zungeru and 3,050MW in Mambilla.

- We have done over 90 transmission projects nationwide with Apo, Mayo Belwa, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Odogunyan and Ejigbo being recently completed ones.

- Although there are still people we have not reached, although there are still disruptions from time to time, it is indisputable that we have delivered on incremental power.

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is making progress in addressing the challenge of terrorism, including by armed groups who invade villages and small farming communities and commit terrible acts including killing women and children.

He said this at the 73rd session of the African Parliamentary Union (APU) in Abuja on Thursday.

The president stated that terrorism, armed banditry and organised crimes have continued to be a security challenge for member states of the African Union.

He said the proliferation of arms aided by abuse of the ease of movement of persons across freer borders, has contributed to acts of terrorism by groups like Al Shaabab, ISIS and Boko Haram.

“Here in Nigeria, we have done a lot to reverse the terror trend and halt the advancement of Boko Haram. We have in collaboration with our neighbours strengthened our armed forces to effectively confront terror groups and have also initiated programmes to address widespread poverty, which has been identified as a significant factor fueling unrest and boosting terror recruitment.

“In spite of this progress, we are not unmindful of the remaining challenge of armed invaders who ransack villages and small farming communities and commit terrible acts including the cold-blooded murder of women and children. We are also making progress in addressing this challenge,” he said.

While commending the actions of African governments in dealing with these evil groups, he hoped that the APU will develop strategies to assist governments in confronting the menace as he pledged to fast track resolutions for deliberation and adoption at the ECOWAS sub-region and the much larger African Union.

Mr Buhari also referred to the recent trade and cooperation agreements signed between China and individual African countries which he said will hasten the efficiency of the business and investment climate in Africa.

He added that barriers that restrict ease of doing business and private sector growth must be addressed by legislation and hoped that resolutions will aid the efforts of African governments in developing a more robust private sector to attract necessary investments in Africa’s economy.

Advocating education of the girl child, Mr Buhari explained that it increases the probability of having more women innovators, entrepreneurs and Chief Executive Officers.



“Education should not be seen as a government programme only, but as a human right and a social imperative. Educating girls once again, I assure the APU of the desire of the government of Nigeria and others to consider your input on this subject with a view to improving the condition of the African girl-child,” he said.

The APU is a continental inter-parliamentary organisation aimed at bringing parliamentary institutions of all African states together as well as realising the objectives of the African Union for the establishment of lasting peace.

Today’s event, being hosted by Nigeria, is the 73rd session. It had in attendance the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, members of the Senate and House of Representatives as well as other top politicians and elites.

I will again say that PMB's administration is a government for the masses. This is the only administration that tends to look down to the problems of the poor masses and immediately incur a solution. This is commendable

President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, in Abuja declared a state of emergency on Nigeria’s water supply, sanitation and hygiene sector.

The president said the declaration has become imperative to reduce the high-prevalence of water-borne diseases in different parts of the country, which has caused preventable deaths.

Inaugurating the National Action Plan for Revitalization of Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector at State House Conference Centre, President Buhari directed government at all levels to redouble efforts and work towards meeting the nation’s water supply and sanitation needs.

The president described statistics on open defecation, access to piped water services and sanitation in the country as ”disturbing”, warning that henceforth, Federal Government support to State Governments will be based on their commitment to implement the National WASH Action Plan in their respective States and to end open defecation by 2025.

”Access to piped water services which was 32% in 1990 has declined to 7% in 2015; access to improved sanitation has also decreased from 38% in 1990 to 29% in 2015.

”Our country now ranks No 2 in the global rating on Open Defecation as about 25% of our population are practicing open defecation.

”WASH services at the rural areas are unsustainable as 46% of all water schemes are non-functional, and the share of our spending on WASH sector has been declining from 0.70% of the GDP in 1990 to about 0.27% in 2015 which is far below the 0.70% at the West African regional level,” he said.

The president used the occasion, attended by state governments and development partners, to reiterate that the provision of potable water supply, adequate sanitation and hygiene are primarily the responsibilities of state and local governments.

”However, these are not being given the required attention judging from the high prevalence of water-borne diseases that are being reported in different parts of the country.

”We cannot and will not continue to allow these preventable occurrences to decimate our population,’’ he said.



President Buhari told the gathering that he was aware that Nigeria did not meet the MDG targets for Water Supply and Sanitation that ended in 2015.

”The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets (6.1 & 6.2) for WASH are even more demanding as they require WASH services to be provided in adequate quantity and quality on premises at affordable prices.

”This cannot be achieved if we continue with ‘a business as usual’ approach.

”It is on this premise that I fully endorse the decision taken at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council in April this year to declare ‘a State of Emergency on our WASH Sector’.

”I call on all State Governments to complement this effort by according the sector similar recognition to enable us work together to achieve the SDG targets for WASH by 2030,’’ he said.

At the federal level, the president pledged that his administration would continue to place priority on infrastructure development including those of water supply, sanitation and hygiene services towards ensuring a better life for Nigerians.

According to him, this is being demonstrated through faithful implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) – which is the present administration’s blueprint for infrastructure and economic development.

”From the inception of this administration, we have demonstrated serious commitment to the development of the Water Sector by preserving the Ministry of Water Resources and subsequently approving the 15-year roadmap developed for the sector.

”The transformation being witnessed in the sector since then is highly commendable.

”I have no doubt that the on-going initiatives including the implementation of the Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) in the Ministry will take the water sector to improved performance and supply, thereby meeting the national aspirations as well as the SDGs,” he said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/294741-buhari-declares-state-of-emergency-on-water-sanitation.html